Byron DuBois, a vegetable and grain grower from Salem County, has been named New Jersey's 2024 Outstanding Young Farmer by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Byron and his wife, Karen, are also finalists for the 2024 National Outstanding Young Farmer Award, to be presented at the National Outstanding Young Farmer Congress in Ferndale, Washington.
“The DuBois family has a storied history in New Jersey’s agricultural industry and Byron has done exemplary work in continuing a generations-long legacy,” said Joe Atchison III, New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. “Byron’s ability and willingness to use innovative, efficient, and environmentally friendly practices has allowed Spring Brook Farms to continue as one of the outstanding operations in the State.”
Byron is a seventh-generation farmer who learned farming from his father, Henry. He was involved in farm operations from a young age and later studied Agricultural Business Management at Delaware Valley College.
“All I have ever wanted to do is farm,” Byron stated. “It runs through my veins, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else as it is a passion and a love that I get to experience every day of my life with my family by my side.”
The farm grows various crops on over 4,000 acres including spinach, sweet corn, tomatoes, field corn, soybeans, and wheat. Byron has implemented efficiency improvements such as upgrading equipment for quicker harvests and using GPS technology for precise planting.
“Every season creates a new opportunity to start fresh," Byron remarked. "That hard, honest, and sometimes thankless work that goes into every season provides immeasurable rewards that fuel my appetite for farming.”
The farm participates in USDA programs like Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to reduce soil erosion. Karen DuBois supports the farm while working full-time as an elementary school teacher.
“Karen is an incredibly supportive wife in every aspect,” Byron said.
The DuBois farm is active in community events including hosting safety drills for local fire departments and supporting local organizations like Little League.
Byron follows his father Henry's footsteps who won the same award in 1983. The Outstanding Young Farmer program aims to improve urban-rural relations by highlighting farmers' challenges and contributions since its inception in 1955.
